Exercising device

ABSTRACT

AN EXERCISING DEVICE WHICH INCLUDES A BASE AND A PLANAR SUPPORT SURFACE PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED ABOVE THE BASE ON AN AXIS WHICH PERMITS THE PLANAR SUPPORT SURFACE TO EXPERIENCE OSCILLATORY MOTION WHEN DRIVEN BY AN ELECTRIC MOTIVE SYSTEM POSITIONED THERBENEATH. FOOT RETAINING MEMBERS ARE REMOVABLY SECURABLY TO THE PLANAR SUPPORT SURFACE AT ANY ONE OF A PLURALITY OF LOCATIONS DISPOSED THEREON WHEREBY WITH PROPER PLACEMENT, PRESELECTED AREAS AND MUSCLES OF A PATIENT&#39;&#39;S FEET AND LEGS MAY BE EXERCISED, PREFERABLY ONE OR MORE OF SUCH LOCATIONS STRADDLES THE OSCILLATORY AXIS OF THE PLANAR SUPPORT SURFACE WHEREBY TRUE DORSIFLEXION ACTION OF THE HUMAN FOOT CAN BE ACHIEVED. ADDITIONALLY, ONE OR MORE OF SUCH LOCATIONS LIES ON THE OSCILLATORY AXIS OF THE PLANAR SUPPORT SURFACE WHEREBY WITH THE AID OF ADDITIONAL BRACKETS, THE FOOT MAY BE SUBJECTED TO AN EVERSION-INVERSION ACTION OR THE ARM OF THE PATIENT MAY BE SUBJECTED TO RECIPROCATING ROTATIVE MOVEMENT ABOUT THE SHOULDER.

Sept. 20, 1971 J. A. RAPOZA EXERCISING DEVICE Filed Sept. 10, 1969 JOSEPH A. RAPOZA LERNER, DAVID 8 BEHR AT TORNE YS United States Patent 3,605,732 EXERCISING DEVICE Joseph A. Rapoza, 148 De Kalb Ave., Jersey City, NJ. 07306 Filed Sept. 10, 1969, Ser. No. 856,569 Int. Cl. A6111 29/00 U.S. Cl. 128-25B 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An exercising device which includes a base and a planar support surface pivotally supported above the base on an axis which permits the planar support surface to experi ence oscillatory motion when driven by an electric motive system positioned therebeneath. Foot retaining members are removably securable to the planar support surface at any one of a plurality of locations disposed thereon whereby with proper placement, preselected areas and muscles of a patients feet and legs may be exercised. Preferably one or more of such locations straddles the oscillatory axis of the planar support surface whereby true dorsifiexion action of the human foot can be achieved. Additionally, one or more of such locations lie on the' oscillatory axis of the planar support surface whereby with the aid of additional brackets, the foot may be subjected to an eversion-inversion action or the arm of the patient may be subjected to reciprocating rotative movement about the shoulder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to exercising devices and more particularly to a leg exercising device which includes a foot supporting planar surface driven in an oscillatory path of motion.

For many patients who have suffered fractures, strokes, polio, neuropathy, polyneuritis etc., rehabilitation through exercise represents a significant mode of treatment. Accordingly, in recent years there has been great emphasis by the medical profession on physical therapy and great strides have been taken in the design of various types of exercising devices by which such therapy can be practiced.

In the field of leg exercising devices, to which the instant invention most pertinently relates, the typical leg exercising device includes one or more foot rests which are pivotally secured along an axis positioned at the heel and thereof and driven in a reciprocating path of motion by appropriate driving mechanism. A prime example of this type of construction is US. Pat. 3,318,304 issued May 9, 1967 to V. Gurewich in which the foot supporting platform reciprocates about an axis 21 positioned at the heel end thereof. Unfortunately, and although this type of unit is the prevailing structure used today, it has many disadvantages which to a great extent limits its application.

For example, in the Gurewitch type of device, there is one primary foot position; and that position is located relatively close to the pivotal axis of the foot support platform. The net result of this type of construction is that only the ankle is flexed as the foot platform is reciprocated with very little exercising action being extended to other parts of the leg such as the knee, the quadriceps or the hamstring muscles. Furthermore, even if by design the Gurewich type of construction were modified to provide a larger moment arm with respect to the pivotal axis, the larger range of leg elements exercised would only be achieved by sacrificing to a great extent the flexing of the ankle. To put it in other words, a primary deficieucy in prior art exercising devices, is their inability to be easily adapted to perform prescribed exercises on prescribed portions of the patient i.e., they cannot be tailored to the specific patient to produce the specific exercises which that patient requires.

A second disadvantage inherent in the Gurewich type of construction and indeed in virtually all prior art type devices of this type, stems from the fact that as noted, the pivotal axis for the foot support surfaces thereof is located at one end, usually the heel end, of the foot supporting platform such that pivotal axis point is behind the heel of the foot when the foot is rested on the platform. Consequently, when the foot platform is reciprocated, only the forwardmost elements of the ankle are flexed and there is a severely restricted heel cord action. A simple example of this action is to place ones foot on the fioor, raise the toes and note the restricted heel cord action. If ones foot is raised off the floor, and the toes are then raised, one will note substantially greater freedom, and significant heel cord action.

Finally, leg exercising devices of the type illustrated in Gurewich are severely limited in application in the sense that they are specifically designed for ankle movement in only one degree of freedom and furthermore have no application to other parts of the body such as for example providing rotative exercises for the arm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In contradistinction to the prior art, the instant invention provides an exercising device which is simple, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to use and by virtue of its expanded capabilities, eliminates those problems which are inherent in the prior art devices over which the instant invention is intended to be an improvement.

As will be described in greater detail, the instant invention includes a base and a planar support surface pivotally supported above the base on an axis which lies intermediate opposite edges thereof such that oscillatory motion thereof is described when the planar support surface is driven by a driving system positioned therebeneath. A pair of foot retaining members are removably securable to the planar support surface at any one of a plurality of locations disposed thereabout. Various ones of these locations are situated at varying distances from the axis of oscillation whereby different types and degrees of exercises may be preselectively chosen in accordance with the particular patient and his exercising needs. This choice of location of the foot retaining members with respect to the axis of oscillation, overcomes one of the basic deficiencies of the prior art devices namely, their inability to be tailored to the particular patient.

In accordance with further aspects of the instant invention others of the preselected foot retaining locations are disposed so as to straddle the aforementioned axis of oscillation. In this manner, and much in the manner of the previously described toe exercising example, true dorsiflexion of the angle maybe achieved.

Finally, other foot retaining locations are established along the aforementioned axis of oscillation whereby and as will be further described, with the aid of appropriately designed brackets, a second degree of rotative freedom for the ankle may be established, while additionally the exercising device of the instant invention may be extended to exercise other portions of the body such as the arm.

Accordingly, it is an object of the instant invention to provide an exercising device which has far greater application than prior art devices over which the instant invention is intended to be an improvement.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide such an exercising device which includes an oscillating foot supporting platform.

Still another object of the instant invention is to provide such an exercising device which includes foot retaining members selectively positionable at any one of a plurality of locations disposed on the aforementioned planar foot supporting platform.

Yet another object of the instant invention is to provide such an exercising device in which various ones of the aforementioned locations are disposed at various distances from the axis of oscillation of the aforementioned foot supporting platform whereby various degrees of exercise for various portions of the human leg can be established.

Still another object of the instant invention is to provide such an exercising device in which various other ones of the aforementioned locations straddle the aforementioned axis of oscillation whereby true dorsifiexion action of the ankle may be established.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide such an exercising device in which still other of the aforemention locations are disposed along the axis of oscillation whereby with the aid of appropriately designed brackets, a second degree of ankle rotation is made possible and at the same time the exercise device can be applied to other portions of the body such as the arm.

Other objects of the invention invention and a further understanding thereof may be had by referring to the following specification and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the exercising device of the instant invention;

FIG. 2. is a perspective view of an ankle bracket which may be used in conjunction with the apparatus of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an arm attachment which may be used in conjunction with the apparatus of FIG. 1.

Turning to the figures, there is shown in FIG. 1 the exercising device of the instant invention. Broadly speaking, the device 10 includes four main portions: the base 12; the planar support surface '14, the driving mechanism 16 and the foot retaining members 74, 76.

In its preferred form, the base 12 includes a pairof outstanding tubular rods 18 and 20 on which is rigidly secured a planar member 22. Approximately mid-way along opposite edges of the planar member 22 are rigidly provided a pair of upstanding arms 24 and 26. The upper ends of the arms '24 and 26 are provided with apertures 28 (only one of which is visible in FIG. 1) in which are journaled for rotation of the opposite ends of an axle 30 secured to the undersurface of the planar foot supporting member 14.

Of course, if desired the axle 30 could be rigidly secured at its opposite ends to the upstanding arms 24 and 26 and the planar support member 114 could be rotatably secured to the axle 30 for example by means of depending U-shaped clips. The mode of attachment is not critical, the only requirement being that the planar support member 14 be rotatably carried with respect to the base broadly designated 12. What is required to practice the instant invention, however, is that the axis designated 32 defined by the axle 30 lie intermediate the opposite edges 3-4 and 36 of the planar support member 14 such that this member will describe an oscillatory path of motion (depicted by the arrows 3 8 and 40) when the platform 14 is driven by the driving system 16.

The drawing mechanism 16 includes an electric motor 42, the output shaft 44 of which is right angle turned and speed reduced by the speed reducer 46 to drive a shaft '48 on which is rigidly secured a crank arm 50'. Secured to a dowel 52 provided on the outer end of the crank arm 50 is one end 54 of a yieldable spring means 56 the opposite end 58 of which is secured to the planar support member 14 approximately mid-way along the edge 36 thereof. Disposed intermediate the ends 54 and 58 of the yieldable spring means 56 in a range adjustment turnbuckle 60 which in a manner to be further described, may be used to preselectively shorten or lengthen the yieldable spring means 56.

The remainder of the driving mechanism 16 is defined by one or more return springs 62 one end of which 64 is secured to the base 12 while the opposite end 66 is secured to the planar support member :14 preferably along the edge 43 thereof.

It will be appreciated that as the electric motor 42 causes the rotation of the crank arm 50 (in the direction depicted by the arrowhead 68), the planar support platform 14 will rotate clockwise as viewed in FIG. 1 about the axis 32. Simultaneously the return spring 62 will be stretched. Finally, when the line of action of the yieldable spring means 56 passes over center with respect to the shaft 48, clockwise rotation of the planar support member 14 will cease, and the now stretched return spring 62 will rotate the planar support platform 14 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 about the axis 32, with such counterclockwise rotation continuing until such time as the line of action of the yieldable spring means 56 once again passes over center to begin a new cycle of clockwise rotation. Thus, it will be appreciated that the planar support platform 14 will in fact describe an oscillatory path of motion as the driving mechanism 16 operates. To vary the extent of oscillation the turnbuckle 60 may be rotated such that the screw threaded terminations 70 and 72 of the spring segments 56' and 56" will approach each other to shorten the overall length of the yieldable spring means 56. Rotation of the turn buckle 60 in the opposite direction will elongate the yieldable spring means 56. It will be appreciated that the length of the yieldable spring means 56. Rotation of the turnor oscillation that the planar support member 14 will experience.

To be used in conjunction with the device 10 are a pair of foot retaining members 74 and 76 preferably in the form of shoes into which a patients feet can be placed and appropriately retained by way of straps, laces, buckles, etc. The shoes 74 and 76 are secured to base plates 78 and 84! respectively from the undersurfaces are provided downwardly extending pairs of stud-like members 82 and 84. Preferably, such members 82 and 84 are externally threaded so as to receive butterfly-type wing nuts (not shown) after these stud-like members are passed through the about to be described pairs of apertures in the planar support member 14.

As seen in FIG. 1, there are disposed at various locations on the planar support member 14 numerous pairs of apertures such as 86, 88, and 92, the apertures of each pair being spaced apart by the same distance as the stud-like members 82 and '84. Thus it will be appreciated that the foot retaining members 74 and 76 can be positioned at any one of the variety of locations defined by the pairs of apertures such as 8892. For example the left foot retaining member 76 could be positioned such that its depending projections 82 and 84 pass through the pair of apertures 88 while the right foot retaining member 74 could be positioned such that its depending projections 82 and 84 pass through the pair of apertures 90. In this example, and assuming that the patients feet were strapped into the appropriate foot retaining member 74 and 76, when the planar support platform 14 were oscillated by the driving mechanism 16, there would result a bicycle type of exercise in which the achilles and peroneous of both the right and left ankle would be alternately stretched and contracted, and all muscles of both legs up to the hips and including the glutal muscles would be gently exercised.

Of course, if desired, the positions of the left and right foot retaining members 74 and 76 can be reversed; alternatively, both foot retaining members 74 and 76 can be placed on the same side of the axis 32 (at different distances from the axis if so desired) and/ or both foot retaining members 74 and 76 may be laterally displaced to parallel rows of apertures if it is desired or felt necessary for the particular patient. It is to be emphasized that the multiplicity of locations defined on the planar support surface 14 adds great flexibility to the instant invention and allows the therapist to establish the proper kind and degree of exercise for the particular patient in accordance with the afliiction he may be suffering.

It is also to be appreciated that should one or more of the foot retaining members 74 or 76 be secured to the planar support surfaces 14 through the pairs of apertures designated 92, the foot retaining member will thereby straddle the axis 32 in which situation there will be a true dorsiflexion of the foot since the oscillation axis 32 will pass through the true flexion point (the mallaleous) of the human foot.

In addition to the above described pairs of apertures exemplified by the designations 86, 88, 91 and 92, it will be seen that there are additional pairs of apertures designated 94 which pairs of apertures lie on the axis of oscillation 32. The purpose of these pairs of apertures 94 may best be understood by referring to FIGS. 2 and 3.

Thus in FIG. 2, there is provided an angled bracket 96 one leg 98 thereof being provided with a pair of downwardly projecting stud-like members 100* and 102 which are so spaced as to be received by the pair of apertures 94 along the axis of oscillation 32. The second leg 104 of the bracket 96 includes a pair of apertures 106 which are so spaced as to receive the downwardly projecting studs 82 and 84 of the foot retaining members 74 and 76 as depicted in phantom by the notation 74 in FIG. 2. Thus it will be appreciated that with the adapting bracket 96 of FIG. 2, it is possible to exercise the ankle of a patient in a second degree of movement as suggested by the arrows 108 in F IG. 2. This type of motion is known as eversion-inversion movement.

Finally, in FIG. 3, there is shown a bracket 110 one leg 112 of which is provided with a pair of depending studlike projections 114 which are adapted to be received by the aperture pair 94 along the axis of rotation 32 of the planar support member 14. A second elongated leg 116 of the bracket 110 terminates in an arcuate portion 118 having a hand grasping handle 120 and a wrist retaining strap secured thereto. When the patients hand is placed on the handle 120 (and that position may be retained with the assistance of the wrist strap 122) it may be seen that the instant invention can 'be used to cause the raised arm of a patient to swing forward and externally rotate rearward with assistive motion, activating the shoulder muscles, especially the infraspinatis and terez minor muscles which are often not exercised, frequently resulting in an inverted arm (commonly designated an internally rotated arm). The external rotation generated by the instant invention leads to a full range of motion and coordination of all of the shoulder muscles.

Thus it will be appreciated that the instant invention provides an exercising device with much greater applicability than prior art devices. Furthermore by providing an oscillatory path of motion for the foot supporting surface, a variety of different types of exercises can be estab lished in accordance with the needs of the individual patient. Furthermore, by situating the foot retaining members of the device across the axis of oscillation, a true dorsifiexion action may be achieved. Additionally, with the aid of specially designed brackets, the exercising device can be extended to provide additional degrees of exercise for the foot, and other portions of the body such as the arm can be exercised as well.

It will be further appreciated that, if desired the yieldable spring means 56 and the return spring(s) 62 may be disconnected such that the device 10 can be used for passive exercise (i.e., the patient supplying the energy to oscillate the planar support surface 14).

It will also be appreciated that although the plurality of locations on the planar support member 14 of the instant invention have been shown as defined by pairs of apertures which receive pairs of depending stubs from the foot retaining members 74 and 76, other structural arrangements can be utilized to achieve the multiplicity of the locations desired. For example, it is Within the contemplation of the instant invention that elongated slots be provided on the planar support surface 14 within which the foot retaining members 74 and 76 could be preselectively slid and retained to establish the desired positions on both sides of or straddling the center of the axis of oscillation. Therefore, while the instant invention has been described in detail with reference to the several embodiments shown herein, it will be understood that many variations and modifications thereof may be practiced without departing from the sphere or scope of the invention as defined in the hereattached claims.

I claim:

1. An exercising device comprising:

a base;

planar support means pivotally supported above said base on an axis which is located intermediate opposite edges of said planar support means;

whereby said planar support means may oscillate about said axis;

and further including first foot retaining means removably securable to said planar support means at any one of a plurality of locations thereon.

2. The exercising device of claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of locations is disposed on a longitudinal axis which is transversely intersected by the axis upon which said planar support means oscillates;

whereby true dorsiflexion action of a foot is achieved when foot is retained by said foot retaining means at said one of said plurality of locations.

3. The exercising device of claim 2 wherein others of said plurality of locations are disposed on opposite sides of the axis upon which said planar support means oscillates.

4. The exercising device of claim 3 and further including second foot retaining means removably securable to said planar support means at any one of said plurality of locations thereon.

5. The exercising device of claim 4 wherein said first and second foot retaining means each include a pair of depending projections, and said plurality of locations are defined by pairs of apertures in said planar support means which receive said projections.

6. The exercising device of claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of locations is longitudinally disposed on the axis upon which said planar support means oscillates.

7. The exercising device of claim 6 and further including angled foot bracket means having one leg thereof removably securable to said one of said plurality of locations which is longitudinally disposed on said axis of oscillation and a second leg adapted to receive said first foot retaining means;

whereby eversion and inversion movement of a foot is achieved when said foot is retained by said foot retaining means.

8. The exercising device of claim 6 and further including arm attachment means having one portion thereof removably securable to said one of said plurality of locations which is longitudinally disposed on said axis of oscillation and a second upstanding portion thereof for attachment to an arm which is to be exercised in an oscillatory manner.

8 9. The exercising device of claim 1 and further includ- References Cited ing driving means for oscillating said planar support means UNITED STATES PATENTS about said axis' and 3,421,760 1/1969 Freeman. where n said driving means includes an electric motor 5 3,526,220 9/1970 Small et a1 having an output shaft, a crank arm connected to said output shaft, and yieldable linking means con- L TRAPP, Primal-y Examiner nected at one end to said crank arm and at. its other end to said planar support means at a location dis- C posed one side of said axis. 10 272-57D 

